mineral

Milky quartz fragment

Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically white to translucent with a vitreous to waxy luster, uneven fracture, and no cleavage; Mohs hardness 7, specific gravity about 2.65. The specimen appears massive and granular rather than clearly crystalline, with minor beige surface staining or matrix.

Identified August 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed when silica-rich fluids crystallized in veins, cavities, or igneous and metamorphic rocks; quartz is mostly Precambrian to modern in age and occurs in nearly all geological settings.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, ceramics, abrasives, electronics, countertops, and ornamental objects; attractive milky quartz is collected but generally has modest value.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric. Milky opacity results mainly from microscopic fluid inclusions, fractures, or mineral impurities.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its hardness— it scratches ordinary glass and is not scratched by a steel knife—plus its lack of cleavage and glassy fracture. Common worldwide, especially in quartz veins, granites, pegmatites, and metamorphic rocks.